It goes without saying the 2025 season has been a year to hopefully forget for the Atlanta Braves and their fans. There is no shortage of players who failed to meet expectations this season, and the team's record reflects it. However, some players have been worse than others. In fact, some players have been so bad that the Braves have to at least consider whether or not keeping them on the roster in 2026 is a smart move.
All of these 2026 question mark players have differing cases for sticking around in Atlanta next season. In this article, we'll go through each looming roster decision and come to a conclusion on if the front office should look to move on from them in the offseason.
These X Braves haven't made a compelling case to remain on the team in 2026
Marcell Ozuna
The Big Bear will be 35 years-old before spring training arrives next season, and he will also enter the offseason as a free agent. Ozuna has experienced a rollercoaster of production during his Braves tenure. This season began with an encouraging start (thanks to Ozuna's high walk rate), but the lack of power in 2025 is a huge red flag for Alex Anthopoulos.
Of course, it was reported early in the season that Ozuna was playing through a partial hip tear, but Ozuna's .402 slugging percentage regardless of the cause isn't a number that justifies a full-time DH role on a team trying to contend and his lingering health questions at his age only bolster the case to move on.
Daysbel Hernandez
Before the season started, Alex Anthopoulos mentioned Daysbel Hernandez as one of the players they were hopeful could take a step forward in 2026. Looking back that statement, it might have been out of pure hope after Anthopoulos realized he would be unable to adequately replace Joe Jimenez in the bullpen.
Hernandez quickly showed why he's never stuck at the Major League level as his command (18.4 BB%) was never consistent enough this season. Hernandez will likely stick around as minor league depth, but keeping an erratic arm that doesn't look to have any chance of figuring out how to throw enough strikes isn't something Anthopoulos will find much joy in doing compared to just replacing him.
Bryce Elder
The former reliable backend rotation option has been better as of late, but the overall numbers on the season are quite ugly. Elder has made 24 starts on the season and owns a 5.54 ERA, 4.73 FIP, and -0.7 bWAR. Elder is one of those guys who has value as organizational depth, but his time in Atlanta may have moved past the point of fans caring about keeping a 7th/8th starter in Gwinnett.
Because there isn't much upside with Elder, and some other much more exciting pitching prospects are working their way into the upper levels of Atlanta's minor league system, keeping Elder around may not be a certainty for 2026.
Sean Murphy
This isn't necessarily a case of Murphy playing his way out of 2026 plans for Atlanta, but rather Drake Baldwin playing so well that it could make Murphy expendable in a trade. Baldwin is a potential Rookie of the Year in the National League, and brings a ton of value to the Braves lineup.
Additionally, Baldwin is on a rookie salary while Murphy is still owed $45 million over the next three seasons. If Anthopoulos wants to reallocate those funds elsewhere (say adding another starter or high-leverage reliever) trading Murphy might be on the table.
Murphy is still an underrated player as his 2.1 fWAR in 93 games played is tied for third amongst Braves position players this season, but his 99 wRC+ doesn't compete with Baldwin's 126 wRC+. However, what the Braves decide to do with the DH spot next season may ultimately determine Sean Murphy's fate in 2026.